Composing herself, Black Peony shot a displeased glance at the attendant, then walked up to Niu You Dao. Niu You Dao smiled faintly: "Were you looking for me?"
They stood before the attendant, and Black Peony firmly stated:
— We met before.
Niu You Dao: "What business do you have?"
Black Peony glanced at the attendant, then looked towards the room:
— May I come in?
— Please! — Niu You Dao stepped aside and invited her in.
Watching Black Peony enter, the attendant reminded Niu You Dao:
— Esteemed Sir, do not say later that I did not warn you. Previously, a guest was robbed by certain individuals when they invited such swindlers to their rooms. The guests only realized their money was missing later. In such cases, we bear no responsibility.
He spoke quite loudly, and Black Peony heard him clearly. Hearing him, she angrily clenched her teeth and cursed the man under her breath.
Niu You Dao recalled that the Supreme Purity Sect had relocated to the Han Kingdom. Perhaps this woman was looking for him concerning that matter.
— Thank you for your kindness. — Niu You Dao waved his hand and handed over a gold coin.
Yuan Fang's heart ached at this. Why spend money like that?
The attendant stretched out his hand and, smiling, accepted the coin:
— I am downstairs on the first floor. Should the gentleman require anything, you may summon me.
Niu You Dao and Yuan Fang entered the room, and the attendant closed the door behind them.
Inside the room, Black Peony, seeing that the kettle had already boiled, immediately approached and began arranging everything. Then she invited Niu You Dao:
— Brother, please!
Niu You Dao sat down, smiling. It seemed she had already discerned the relationship between Yuan Fang and him.
Only then did Black Peony invite Yuan Fang:
— Brother, please sit as well.
Yuan Fang was slightly puzzled. What did this woman want to do? However, he did not sit. He had learned this from Yuan Gang. He stood behind Niu You Dao.
It was deeply imprinted in his mind that Yuan Gang always positioned himself behind Niu You Dao whenever a new person appeared. To always be ready to fend off an enemy's attack.
Seeing Yuan Fang's reluctance to sit, Black Peony merely chuckled and then began pouring tea for both of them. Then she introduced herself to Niu You Dao:
— Everyone calls me Black Peony...
Niu You Dao interrupted her with a raised hand and, looking out the window, said:
— Bring me a book of wild animal records.
Yuan Fang nodded and turned to leave. He thought Niu You Dao was dismissing him so he could enjoy himself with the woman.
— You, come back. — Niu You Dao called him back, smiling bitterly to himself. What a difference there was between him and Yuan Gang! The latter understood him with a single glance, but Yuan Fang needed everything explained.
He told Yuan Fang: "I wasn't talking to you, but to her."
— ...Both Black Peony and Yuan Fang froze.
Black Peony immediately stood up, a hint of doubt in her eyes.
— Books of wild animal records, and also good wine and snacks. By the way, he doesn't eat meat. — Niu You Dao immediately clarified: "Any questions?"
— ...Black Peony had no idea what was happening. She had just met him, they hadn't even properly sat down, and he was already sending her out to buy things? She understood that the other party seemed to intend to converse with her.
— Alright! I'll be back soon.
With that, she immediately turned and left. Just as she was about to open the door, Niu You Dao spoke again:
— I plan to stay here for half a year. For now, I've rented the room for one day.
Black Peony stopped at the door. She turned her head and looked at Niu You Dao. Niu You Dao, meanwhile, held a teacup and gazed out the window. It was unclear with whom he was speaking.
Black Peony hesitated slightly, then nodded:
— I will help you. — After saying this, she closed the door and left.
— ...Yuan Fang was surprised and asked: "Lord Dao, will she pay for our room?"
Niu You Dao: "Perhaps! This tea is of the highest quality. The money was not spent in vain." — He extended his hand, offering him tea.
Yuan Fang sat opposite him and took a sip of tea, then asked again:
— We're going to live here for half a year? Can she help us pay for the room here?
— Whether she helps us or not, we lose nothing from it. What are you worried about? — Niu You Dao looked at him.
— That would be good. — Yuan Fang said doubtfully. However, he had already determined that Lord Dao was the kind of person accustomed to ordering people around. Wherever he went, he would find someone to command. And it seemed to come naturally.
Downstairs in the inn, an attendant noticed Black Peony exiting Niu You Dao's room. He was surprised. Could she have been kicked out so quickly?
Black Peony stepped outside and nodded to her people, who then slipped into a dark alley.
Several people immediately asked:
— Boss, did you see him? Did he agree?
Black Peony: "I saw him, but we haven't spoken yet. I don't have enough money. Gather 800 gold coins for me."
Everyone was surprised: "Why so much money?"
Black Peony felt awkward. She clicked her tongue and said: "He wants to stay here for half a year, but he's only paid for one day. We have to pay for the remaining days."
— ...Several people looked at her in surprise, as if they had heard utter nonsense.
Black Peony then explained everything so they would know what had happened.
— Ahh! — Several people looked at her as if she were an idiot.
One asked: "Boss, how are we supposed to get that much money?"
Another person said:
— One day is 10 gold, so half a year is about 1800!
Another person said: "Boss, are you mistaken? You haven't even discussed the matter yet, but you already want to rent a room for him for half a year? What if he refuses, what do we do then?"
— Exactly! We don't have that much money. And he just arrived here and dared to ask for a room to be rented for him? If he refuses, how do we get our money back? Wouldn't we just be throwing money away then?
Black Peony was also worried. They themselves were quite the swindlers, but today it was as if they had met an even more formidable one. It was as if she had seen a demon. He had only thrown out a single suggestion, and she had already agreed. What was going on?
— I think he's trustworthy! — Black Peony replied timidly.
— Trustworthy? I think he's a dishonest person. He might deceive us. What will we do then? Throw ourselves into a ditch?
— Right, right. This man seems dark and cunning. There's no need to pay him any mind. It's fine that we already spent 10 gold. But 1800 gold... that's a different matter entirely. Such money is hard to come by.
— This man is so ruthless, he'd even fleece the poor!
Black Peony angrily said: "Don't delay, hand over the money. I'm going to take a risk!"
— A risk? What kind of risk? Boss, are you in your right mind? We don't even know him.
Black Peony: "What nonsense! If I'm wrong, then you can consider it a loan from me. Deduct it from my share!"
— Boss, that's not the point. It's just, what kind of person is he? Isn't he just ready to trick us?
Black Peony: "Hurry! He's still waiting for me..." She angrily began kicking their legs. Black Peony was starting to lose it.
In the end, several people reluctantly pulled out eight 100-gold banknotes and handed them to her.
— Books of wild animal records, good wine, and snacks. Remember that. By the way, one of them is a vegetarian, bring more meat-free food. Hurry up, I'll be waiting for you here. — Black Peony urged them on.
One person grumbled unhappily: "And we have to buy their provisions too? He's really swindling us, Boss. How can you fall for this!?"
Black Peony only shouted angrily:
— Hurry up. Are you deaf or something? — she urged them.
Watching the few people depart, Black Peony covered her face with her hands. She herself wasn't sure. Had she gone mad?
However, in the end, she made her final decision. If it meant taking a risk, then she would take a risk.
She sighed and turned, heading towards the inn's front desk. Reaching the manager at the counter, she pulled out one 500-gold banknote and thirteen 100-gold banknotes, handing them to him.
— Manager, Room 2B for half a year.
The manager froze. He took the fourteen banknotes and checked their authenticity. Then, speechless, he asked with doubt:
— Half a year for Room 2B, are you certain?
Black Peony steeled herself and nodded:
— Are the banknotes fake? Or will you still refuse to let me in? — She was still angry from being insulted just moments ago.
The manager looked at his attendant in bewilderment. Could this truly be real?
He pulled out the ledger, wrote out a receipt, and handed it to her.
Black Peony took the receipt, feeling as if it were an incomparably heavy piece of paper. After this, the manager politely invited her into the inner courtyard, but she, ignoring him, walked out and waited for her companions near the inn.
At that moment, she was filled with complex emotions. After a short while, her companions arrived with the provisions. All of them clearly looked crestfallen.
Black Peony took the boxes and headed to the room.
Yuan Fang opened the door and let her in.
As soon as she entered, she laid out the items and handed the receipt to Niu You Dao:
— This is the receipt for half a year's stay here.
Niu You Dao took the receipt and looked at it. Then he handed the receipt to Yuan Fang:
— Take it.
Yuan Fang took the receipt and saw that 1800 gold coins had already been paid for them. His mouth twitched at such a sum. Earlier, the manager had said that overpaid money for lodging could be refunded. Did this mean he now held 1800 gold coins in his hands?!
He exited the room and headed towards the manager to verify the receipt's authenticity.